Alright, it’s got to be said: the summer has been a little *ahem* lackluster for us Portlanders. As I write this, it’s overcast and present temperature is 68 degrees with much the same being forecast for the rest of the week.
So it seemed like a good time to post about some cheerier things. Despite the crummier-than-normal season overall, there have been some real show stopping nice days. And some great day trip excursions to some of the really beautiful natural places right in Portland.
Oak’s Bottom Wildlife Refuge in SE PDX is all of ten minutes from my apartment but this was my first visit. I’m not much of a birder but over the course of my wanderings I saw two bald eagles, a common yellowthroat, at least four great blue herons, gaggles of Canadian geese, mallard ducks, and a pair of nuthatches bathing in the dust, scrub jays, and on and on and on. The pond algae in bloom was of either toxic lime green or brilliant turquoise and made fantastic swirling patterns in areas where they met on the surface.
blue-green algae
In the sunny open field areas, wildflowers and elderberries were on full display.
red elderberries
All in all it was a marvelous way to spend a sunny morning. So invigorating and so accessible I could truly see myself incorporating a jaunt through Oaks Bottom as part of a normal morning routine. Now I just need to convince the sun…
